§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent each local authority in Lanarkshire has raised rents since 1945; what these increases represent as a percentage of 1945 rents; and what was the average rate imposed in 1945–46 and in 1960–61, respectively.
§ Mr. MaclayExactly comparable figures for rents in 1945 and at the present time are not available, but the following table compares average net rent income per house, exclusive of owners' rates, in the financial year 1945–46 with average standard (i.e., un-rebated) rents at November, 1960 (the latest date for which information is available).
an advanced grade of the Scottish certificate of education and for the setting up of a Scottish examination board.
§ Mr. MaclayThe consultations which I have had show that Scottish educational opinion generally is in favour of the Advisory Council's recommendations, and I have decided to accept them 155W both in principle. I am now engaging in detailed consultations on the constitution of an examination board with a membership drawn from the educational interests concerned. Preliminary work is also in hand for the introduction of an advanced grade of the Scottish certificate of education with a view to publication of the necessary syllabuses by the end of 1962 and the holding of the first examination as soon thereafter as the necessary courses can be introduced in the schools. The setting up of a widely representative examination board will have the benefit of giving the teaching profession, the universities and other institutions direct responsibility for the conduct of the examination in future. The introduction of an advanced grade should also be of real advantage to education in Scotland.